Man charged in Illahee murder released

John Richard Miller was 10 days away from standing trial for the gruesome murder of an elderly woman when prosecutors unexpectedly asked a judge to dismiss the charge Friday.

But they left open the possibility of charging him again.

Miller checked out of jail at 2:10 p.m. Friday, 19 months after being arrested on suspicion of murdering 90-year-old Ruth Davison.

Davison was brutally killed June 16, 2000, in her pink Illahee mobile home. Her car was hot-wired and driven off an embankment nearby.

The crime went unsolved for nearly three years until Miller, who had been a suspect since the murder, was arrested Feb. 12, 2003.

Miller and his lead attorney Adrian Pimentel didn't expect a dismissal when they walked into a Kitsap County courtroom at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Then prosecutors handed them and the judge paperwork asking to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning they could later charge Miller.

Miller said of that moment: "I walk in the courtroom and he (Pimentel) sits there and says they're dismissing charges today. And I said, 'Are you serious?' Then he comes over and says, 'What's the matter?' And I said I was kind of looking forward to the fight. Because this just dismisses without prejudice. I wanted my name all the way clear."

Prosecutors did not believe that a jury would find Miller guilty with the evidence they currently have.

"We thought it would be a mistake to bring it in front of a jury at this time," said county Prosecutor Russ Hauge.

Hauge would say little else except that his office and the Sheriff's Office would gather more evidence for the case. In a prepared statement, he cited rules of professional conduct that prevents prosecutors from discussing a case under investigation.

The Sheriff's Office, which was notified early Friday, declined to provide further details for similar reasons.

"We will continue our investigation to ensure that those responsible for the death of Ruth Davison are brought to justice," Sheriff Steve Boyer said in a prepared statement.

There is no statute of limitations on homicide. If more evidence comes to light, prosecutors could proceed with charges at any time.

When Miller was arrested, detectives stated that Miller's acquaintances had told them that he all but confessed to the crime.

Miller, a methamphetamine addict, also told detectives he blacked out that night, but had drug-clouded memories of blood, a dead body and crawling out of a car.

Miller had threatened to kill a woman's children unless she agreed to be an alibi, court papers said.

Miller's attorneys have a week to file paperwork asking a judge to prohibit prosecutors from again filing charges.

"It would be ridiculous that the state needs any more time to solve this," said defense attorney Michael Jordan.

Miller's attorneys, as in many murder cases, suggested there were other suspects. They also allege that the case was mishandled.

Pimentel accused the Sheriff's Office of losing or failing to preserve critical evidence and writing misleading reports that left out information not favorable to its case.

"I can't say whether that was because detectives lied or are incompetent," Pimentel said. "The governmental misconduct in this case is so egregious that next week we're going to be filing a motion to make the state pay for the defense out of (prosecution's) budget."

"If there is not precedent on this, I'm going to make it," he said.

The Sheriff's Office defended its record.

"The Sheriff's Office has an exceptional rate of homicide clearances," said spokesman Scott Wilson. "Since 1961, there is only one other homicide that has not been resolved."

"The defense for Mr. Miller has the constitutional right to say whatever they wish to, however, we are limited in our ability to comment because the case remains open."

The case is far from over, he said, and detectives will increase efforts to bring closure to the tragic murder.

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Sheriff's detectives ask anyone who may have information about Ruth Davison's death to contact detectives Ray Strobel at (360) 337-5614 or Roger Howerton at (360) 337-5611.  Detectives investigating the June 2000 slaying of 90-year-old Ruth Davison said Friday they still are trying to determine whether more ... [Read More...]

John Richard Miller, who spent 19 months in jail awaiting trial for the murder of a 90-year-old Illahee woman before being released last month, still could be forced to stand trial, a judge ruled Friday. Miller, 38, was accused of strangling Ruth Davison in her ... [Read More...]

John Miller Staff photo by Steve Zugschwerdt John Richard Miller no longer has to count down the days, waiting behind bars to defend himself against a murder he believes he did not commit. At 1:30 Friday afternoon, Kitsap County prosecutors filed a motion to ... [Read More...]

* The victim was one of 60 Citizens of the Century honored in Bremerton earlier this year. A 90-year-old woman known for her spunk was found slain inside her blood-spattered home at Illahee Shores Mobile Home Park on Friday afternoon. The body of Ruth Davison ... [Read More...]